Sofosbuvir and Velpatasvir (Epclusa) effects

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the combination of sofosbuvir and velpatasvir (Epclusa) for the treatment of adult patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV), including cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic (end-stage liver disease). For patients with moderate to severe cirrhosis (decompensated cirrhosis), the sofosbuvir-velpatasvir combination is approved for use in combination with the drug ribavirin. The sofosbuvir-velpatasvir combination is a fixed-dose combination tablet containing the approved drug sofosbuvir and the new drug velpatasvir and is the first drug to treat all six major forms of HCV.

Hepatitis C is a viral disease that causes inflammation of the liver, which can lead to decreased liver function or liver failure. There are at least six differentHCV genotypes or strains, which are genetically distinct groups of viruses. Knowing the genotype can help inform treatment recommendations and duration of treatment. ApproximatelyHCV infection becomes chronic in 75% to 85% of cases. People who have chronic HCV infection for many years may develop complications such as bleeding, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin), fluid in the abdomen, infection, liver cancer, and death. This approval provides a management and treatment option for a broader range of patients with chronic hepatitis C.

The original drug of sofosbuvir and velpatasvir has been launched in China and has entered the scope of Class B medical insurance. The domestic trade name is protonsa, and the specification (400mg+100mg)*28 tablets is priced at about 4,000 yuan per box. The original drug of sofosbuvir and velpatasvir has also been launched overseas. There are also generic drugs of sofosbuvir and velpatasvir produced in other countries. The price of the specification (400mg + 100mg) * 28 tablets produced by Everest Pharmaceutical Factory in Bangladesh is about 850 yuan per box (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate). The generic drugs produced abroad are basically the same as the original drugs at home and abroad.